Ficus plant named ‘ESPE1901’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Ficus  plant named ‘ESPE1901’ which is characterized by the combination of large leaves held upright on a medium-sized plant, dark green leaves with prominent light green venation, and the stability of all characteristics from generation to generation.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is Ficus benghalensis.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Ficus disclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘ESPE1901’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘ESPE1901’ originated as a naturally occurring, whole-plant mutation of an unnamed Ficus benghalensis plant (not patented). In February of 2014, the inventor discovered the mutation at his commercial greenhouse in Gravenzande, The Netherlands, growing amongst a cultivated population of Ficus benghalensis plants. The mutation was noted for its large, dark green leaves with prominent light green venation and was subsequently isolated for further evaluation in order to confirm the distinctness and stability of the characteristics first observed. Upon confirmation of distinctness and stability, ‘ESPE1901’ was selected for commercialization.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of ESPE1901’, by way of stem cuttings, was first initiated in the summer of 2014 at a commercial greenhouse in Gravenzande, The Netherlands. Through five subsequent generations, the unique features of this cultivar have proven to be stable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘ESPE1901’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘ESPE1901’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘ESPE1901’ as a new and distinct Ficus cultivar:

-   -   1. Ficus ‘ESPE1901’ exhibits large leaves held upright on a         medium-sized plant; and     -   2. Ficus ‘ESPE1901’ exhibits dark green leaves with prominent         light green venation, particularly on the abaxial leaf surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of ‘ESPE1901’ grown in a commercial greenhouse in Gravenzande, The Netherlands. This plant is approximately 25 weeks old, shown planted in a 19 cm container.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the adaxial surface of the mature foliage of ‘ESPE1901’.

FIG. 3 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the abaxial surface of the mature foliage of ‘ESPE1901’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements were made in February of 2019 and describe a sample set of six 25 week-old ‘ESPE1901’ plants grown in 19 cm nursery pots, two plants per container, at a greenhouse in Gravenzande, The Netherlands. Plants were produced in a greenhouse with full sun exposure, ebb and flood irrigation tables, no supplemental fertilizer, and no preventative or pest control measures utilized.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘ESPE1901’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may differ from the descriptions set forth herein with variations in environmental, climactic and cultural conditions. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘ESPE1901’ and comparisons with the parent plant and most similar commercial variety of Ficus are provided below.

-   Plant description:     -   -   Growth habit.—Upright broadleaf evergreen tree.         -   Plant form.—Broad oblong.         -   Average height.—67.0 cm from the soil level to the top of             the foliar plane.         -   Plant spread.—Average of 61.5 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Moderately fast to fast.         -   Plant vigor.—Moderately vigorous to vigorous.         -   Propagation type.—Stem cuttings.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 40 days to             produce a rooted cutting at approximately 25 degrees             Celsius.         -   Time to produce a finished plant.—Approximately 18 weeks to             produce a marketable finished plant in a 17 cm pot.         -   Disease resistance.—Neither resistance nor susceptibility to             typical Ficus benghalensis pests and diseases has been             observed.         -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to, at least, USDA Zones 10             through 13 and temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius;             moderate to high tolerance to rain; low to moderate             tolerance to wind. -   Root system:     -   -   General.—Moderately dense, moderately branched rooting;             roots are slightly fibrous.         -   Distribution in the soil profile.—Moderately deep.         -   Diameter of roots.—1.25 mm on average.         -   Texture.—Smooth; no root hairs.         -   Color.—Greyed-orange, nearest to RHS 163A. Young roots are             colored greyed-yellow, nearest to RHS 162B. -   Stem:     -   -   General branching habit.—Basally branching main stems; no             lateral branching. Pinching isn't required but will improve             branching. Stems produce a milky exudate when damaged.         -   Quantity of stems.—3.         -   Length.—Approximately 50.1 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.9 cm.         -   Internode length.—Approximately 6.4 cm.         -   Attitude.—Near vertical.         -   Aspect.—Rounded.         -   Texture.—Young stems are covered with a crackled scape-like             pubescence which is colored greyed-green, nearest to RHS             197D. Mature stems are densely covered with very short soft             hairs with an average length of 0.3 mm. Hairs are colored             greyed-brown, nearest to RHS 199D.         -   Luster.—Matte.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Color, juvenile.—Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144A.         -   Color, mature.—Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 148A.         -   Color at internodes.—Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 148A, and             radially striped greyed-orange, nearest to RHS 172A.         -   Color of the oldest wood.—Greyed-brown, nearest to a mixture             of RHS 199C and 199D, and axially striped darker, nearest to             a mixture of RHS N199C and N199D. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Division.—Simple.         -   Quantity.—8 leaves per lateral branch.         -   Attitude.—At an average angle of 40 degrees to the branch.         -   Lamina.—Shape — Elliptic. Aspect — Slightly carinate.             Dimensions — 27.8 cm long and 12.1 cm wide. Apex — Short             apiculate with a blunt tip. Base — Cuneate. Margin — Entire;             very slightly undulate. Texture and luster of the adaxial             surface — Smooth and densely covered with very short             green-white hairs, nearest to RHS 157D, with an average             length of 0.3 mm. Texture of the abaxial surface — Slightly             rugose and densely covered with very short green-white             hairs, nearest to RHS 157D, with an average length of             0.3 mm. Luster of the adaxial surface — Moderately glossy.             Luster of the abaxial surface — Matte. Color — Juvenile             foliage, adaxial surface — Green, nearest to RHS NN137A, and             veined yellow-green, nearest to RHS N144D. Juvenile foliage,             abaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to in between RHS             144A and 146B, and veined lighter, nearest to in between RHS             145A and 150B. Mature foliage, adaxial surface — Nearest to             in between green and yellow-green, RHS NN137A and 147A.             Mature foliage, abaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to             in between RHS 146B and 147B.         -   Venation.—Pattern — Pinnate. Color, adaxial surface —             Yellow-green, nearest to RHS N144D. Color, abaxial surface —             Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 145A.         -   Stipule.—Not present.         -   Petiole.—Length — 5.2 cm. Diameter — 0.6 cm. Strength —             Strong. Texture — Densely covered with soft green-white             hairs, nearest to RHS 157D, with an average length of             0.5 mm. Luster — Matte. Color: adaxial surface —             Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 146B. Color, abaxial surface —             Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144A. -   Inflorescence: No flowering has been observed to date. -   Comparison with the parent plant: Plants of the new cultivar     ‘ESPE1901’ differ from the parent, an unnamed Ficus benghalensis     plant (not patented), in the following characteristics described in     Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘ESPE1901’ The parent Stem length. Shorter than the parent. Longer than ‘ESPE1901’. Foliage abundance. Less abundant than the More abundant than parent. ‘ESPE1901’. Foliage attitude. More upright. More relaxed. Foliage size. Larger than the parent. Smaller than ‘ESPE1901’. General coloration Darker green. Lighter green. of the mature foliage.

-   Comparison with the closest known comparator: Plants of the new     cultivar ‘ESPE1901’ differs from the variety, Ficus bussei     ‘ESFIBU1802’ (U.S. Patent application Ser. No. 16/501,282), for     which a United States plant patent application is being filed     concurrently with the instant application, in the following     characteristics described in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘ESPE1901’ ‘ESFIBU1802’ Foliage shape. Elliptic. Ovate. Foliage attitude. More upright than More relaxed than ESFIBU1802’. ‘ESPE1901’. Foliage venation. Less densely pinnate. More densely pinnate. Foliage margin Very slightly Slightly angulate; undulation. undulated. moderately undulate. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Ficus plant named ‘ESPE1901’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 